NameCensus.

UK surname

Kristensen

Of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Kristen" (a Christian).

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Kristensen surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, County Durham and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kristensen is 212 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20600.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

2015

212 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kristensen had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 25 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kristensen surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kristensen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kristensen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kristensen over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 18 #32,032
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 138 #22,227
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 169 #21,499
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 204 #19,276
2014 modern 209 #19,128
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

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Where Kristensens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, County Durham, West Berkshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 005 Liverpool
2 County Durham 034 County Durham
3 West Berkshire 002 West Berkshire
4 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kristensen

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kristensen surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kristensen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kristensen, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kristensen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kristensen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Kristensen is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kristensen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kristensen falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kristensen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kristensen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kristensen

The surname Kristensen originates from Denmark and is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the given name of an ancestor, in this case, Kristen, which is the Danish form of the name Christian.

The name Kristen itself has its roots in the Greek word "Christianos," meaning a follower of Christ. The suffix "-sen" is a common Danish patronymic suffix, indicating "son of." Thus, Kristensen literally translates to "son of Kristen" or "son of Christian."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kristensen can be found in the Danish Census of 1787, where a man named Jens Kristensen is listed as residing in the village of Skjern, located in the western part of Jutland, Denmark. This suggests that the name had already been established in this region by the late 18th century.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Peder Kristensen Porse (1501-1569) was a Danish nobleman and landowner who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Denmark. He was a close ally of King Christian III and was instrumental in the implementation of the new Lutheran Church in the country.

Another notable individual with the surname Kristensen was Hans Kristensen (1853-1928), a Danish painter and illustrator who was known for his depictions of Danish landscapes and rural scenes. His works are highly regarded and can be found in various museums and art galleries throughout Denmark.

In the field of literature, the name Kristensen is associated with the Danish author and critic Steen Steensen Blicher (1782-1848). Although his surname was Blicher, he was also known by the patronymic Kristensen, as his father's name was Kristen.

Moving forward in time, the Danish businessman and philanthropist Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (1913-2012), who was the former CEO and chairman of the shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, also bore the surname Kristensen as his middle name, which was derived from his mother's maiden name.

While the surname Kristensen is predominantly Danish in origin, it has also been adopted by individuals in other Scandinavian countries, such as Norway and Sweden, due to the close cultural and linguistic ties between these nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kristensen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kristensen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 1 Kristensens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 8.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1 Kristensens recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.93x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1 144.93x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kristensen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Nils 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kristensen households.

Occupation Count
Boan 1

FAQ

Kristensen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kristensen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Kristensen surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kristensen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Kristensen a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Kristensen surname mean?

Of Scandinavian origin, meaning "son of Kristen" (a Christian).

What does the Kristensen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kristensen bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.